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January 16, 2003 VNN7727 Related VNN Stories
Srila Narayan Maharaja To Visit Alachua
BY JALAKARA DASA
ALACHUA, FLORIDA, Jan 16 (VNN) — Srila Bhaktivedanta Narayan Maharaja will visit Alachua, Florida, February 1st through 6th, for the forth-annual Alachua Festival of Understanding. All are welcome to attend.
This year the festival will be located at a retreat site located 15 miles North of Alachua, near the neighboring town of High Springs.
The retreat has dormitory cabin accommodation for 140, plus extra cabins for sannyasis and festival managers.
 The annual Alachua festival has long been known for both it's excellence of prasadam and the elevated level of Krishna katha spoken.
The 200-acre site is wooded in oaks and pine, and features play and sports facilities for children and teens. There will also be childcare and a snack bar.
The suggested donation is: $80 per person (under 12 free) and $10 per person per night for dormitory accommodation. Devotees who have financial difficulty may be asked to perform some service. No one will be turned away on a financial basis.
There are no facilities available for families. Family groups are advised to take a motel in nearby High Springs (5 minutes away) or Alachua (20 minutes away).
The vyasa puja (appearance day) celebration of Srila Narayan Maharaja will be celebrated Saturday February 1st, the first time in North America. There will be a gala celebration and feast that day.
In addition, there will be daily classes and kirtans by visiting vaishnava preachers such as Aranya Maharaja, Madhav Maharaja, Bhakti Sar Maharaja and Shyamarani devi dasi, from mangala aratik right up until the evening lecture by Srila Narayan Maharaja.
The accommodation is filling up fast, and we urge devotees to book now.
Important note: if you are planning to accommodate in the dormitory cottages, you will need bedding (sheets, blanket, pillow, or sleeping bag).
There is a laundry facility on site, as well as a nursing station. There will be collection from Jacksonville airport the evenings of Thursday Jan 30 and Friday Jan 31. There will be pick-up from Orlando airport the evening of Friday Jan 31 only.
There will also be a regular shuttle service from downtown Alachua to the festival site.
The site will be open for devotees to register and check in from noon Friday Jan 31st. We strongly suggest devotees arrive that day.
We cannot arrange accommodation for devotees who arrive before the 31st.
The festival needs donations of flowers, bhoga, and funds. Please bring your instruments. We also need helpers to assist in getting the festival organized on the 31st, as well as help throughout the week.
The weather at this time of year is chilly at night and warm during the day.
All cabins are heated, as is the hall. The hall also features a giant fireplace. There will also be outdoor fireside kirtan and katha.
After the festival concludes Srila Narayan Maharaja will travel to South Florida via Orlando for the Coral Springs festival February 7th through 9th.
Contact e-mails:
Isa dasa (WLG@aol.com) - Devotee Ambassador (reservations, airport collection, payment, scheduling, help for devotees)
Madhavi dd (madhvidasi@yahoo.com) - Vyas Puja Festival Coordinator
Gaura Priya dd (mrnalini@aol.com) - Kitchen Coordinator
Jalakara dasa (jalakara@yahoo.com) - Alachua Festival Coordinator
Mahabuddhi dasa (mbuddhi@cs.com - Coral Springs Festival Coordinator
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